Rank the KNOXVILLE teams!

[K2ruth]

Let's have some fun. Let's rank the Knoxville teams. Just Knoxville. No Tri-Cities, Chattanooga, Anderson or Blount County teams. Only Knoxville.

 

1. CAK - Should be a repeat state championship. No AA team can beat them and they are the class of Knoxville.

 

2. Bearden - Can one great player make a great team? In this case yes. An average setter, no other hitters and a rookie coach, and still they can win a state championship. She can hit from all six positions and cannot be blocked.

 

3. Farragut - They are almost identical to Bearden. Both led by a great Junior hitter, but average setter and a weaker supporting cast gives the edge to the Bulldogs. These District rivals will meet four times this year, and I hope the coaches let the State's two best players go head to head for bragging rights. Both schools will have an easy path to the state tournament and could very well meet in the state finals.

 

4. Hardin Valley - Any other year this would be HV's year, but they don't have a player that can stack up against Bearden's and Farragut's big time Juniors. Great team, but not enough to beat either of the D-1 hitters.

 

5. Webb - Best coach in the state, and her daughter is another big time player. Lacks the height of the big four, but should win a state championship.

 

No one else I'll make any noise. Catholic lost there coach and don't have enough to take a game from any of the top five, but they are the best of the rest.

[ScottRoss5]

I wouldn't write Catholic off. They were a fun team to watch last season.

 

I don't disagree with the top five, but Bearden shouldn't be that high and Webb shouldn't be that low. Again, I think you must be a Farragut parent. It wouldn't surprise me if Farragut or Beaden loses to Harden Valley.

 

To be honest, I don't think any of these teams will be as good as they were last year. CAK. Bearden, Catholic and Harden Valley lost really good coaches, and they have been replaced with young coaches with no real experience. I promise you that if the football positions were open they wouldn't have been filled with first time coaches. I expect the quality of play to drop.

 

Farragut lost its best players from a great team, and Webb just doesn't have the numbers. I don't see these teams doing as well as they did last year.

[flyjgray]

1. Webb

2. Farragut

3. CAK

4. Bearden

5. Catholic

 

Webb and Farragut will split most likely. Webb's 8th grader will make an impact immediately.

[SummaryJudgment]

Saw Webb play Baylor tonight. Both very good teams. I don't know which team won as I was keeping my eye on another match. But Baylor seemed to be in control and then Webb would make a run. Then Baylor would pull a little bit ahead. Both teams have very good setting and back rows. Both well coached teams based on the level of play I saw in a preseason game. It was fun match to watch.

[K2ruth]

I have been hearing positive things about HValley, could be a surprise team this year. I do agree about coaching. Of the six real teams, CAK, Catholic, HV and Bearden have young coaches with no high school experience. Farragut and Webb have seasoned coaches with real experience. We will see.

[IrishBBall]

Catholic has added two very good players that will have a positive impact. Both are club players that didn't play for Catholic last year. They may be better than people think.

[K2ruth]

That's why they hired a club coach. I don't think they will be bad, they just can't compete with the other top tier teams.

[IrishBBall]

That's why they hired a club coach. I don't think they will be bad, they just can't compete with the other top tier teams.

Is hiring a club coach (that doesn't have a daughter playing) a good or bad thing?

[K2ruth]

I don't think it is either good or bad. In Catholics situation I think it satisfied some disgruntled parents. The parents ran off a really good coach, I think one of the top two or three in Knoxville, and replaced him with a really nice guy, but an inexperienced coach. Won't matter this year, CAK is better at every position, I worry about whether it will hurt them down the road.

[ScottRoss5]

if I had to rank, and I think it is still way too early, but based just on talent and coaching, by that I mean potential, where I would expect them to be, I would do this:

 

Webb

CAK

Harden Valley

Farragut

Catholic

 

I really like Webb. Solid team, knows how to win, great coaching. CAK and Harden Valley have a lot of players who can really play. Farragut is my question mark team. I like their star player,, really like her, but I don't know if she can carry a team or if they can get her the ball enough to be effective, they have a good L but the S is a question.

 

As far as Catholic I have no idea why you wouldn't put them in the top five. Great volleyball school, good athletes, solid coach.

[IrishBBall]

Catholic came up short against Farragut last night but played them tough. Last 2 games were 26-24. Couldn't capitalize on several key points but was a great match to watch!

 

Farragut's #6 WOW!!! Different level player.

[flyjgray]

After early bird Knox top 5

1. Webb

2. Farragut

3. Bearden

4. CAK

5. Catholic